Kinetoscope.



PATENTED MAR. a, 1903. w. R. MEIKLB. KINETOSGOPE,

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 8, 1899.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILSON R. MEIKLE, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

KINETOSCOPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 721,718, dated March 3, 1903.

Application filed November 8, 1899. Serial No. 736,235. (No model.) I

To. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILSON ROWAN MEI- KLE, assurance manager, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and aresident of the Liberal Club, in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Kinetoscopes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to give the appearance of lifelike motion to pictures or figures, chiefly with a view to advertising purposes.

The invention consists of a sign-board or other suitable fixed surface upon which is painted or otherwise applied a series of correlated pictures each representing a single figure or group of figures in attitudes indicating motion and the series indicatingcontinuousmotion in natural or regularsequence. The surface containing these pictures is divided into a plurality of panels by vertical partitions, which may project edgewise at right angles to the surface. These partitions may be secured directly to the sign-board or may form a framework to be placed in front of the sign, the latter arrangement being preferable when the pictures are painted on a dead wall. To an onlooker in motion these pictures so arranged appear to be moving, the effect beinga well-known optical illusion.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a-front elevation of the sign-board in which the pictures are represented. Fig. 2 is an end view of same. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a frame to be placed in front of a dead wall or flat sign-board for the purpose of dividing it into panels. Fig. 4 is an end view of same. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a flat sign-board having a progressive series of pictures thereon, and Fig. 6 is an end view of the same with the frame of Fig. 3 set in front thereof.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A is a board on which the pictures 0 are placed, and which board is supportedon legs or stands B. The face of the board is divided into panels by means of partitions a, set in edgewise, each panel containing a single figure in an attitude of motion, and the successive panels showing the same figure in progressive stages of motion. These partitions act as an impediment in the line of vision between the onlooker and the pictures or figures, shielding the field of one figure from the field of the next, and make it possible for him tosee only one at the same instant, and the quick change in view gives the appearance of lifelike motion.

In Figs. 3 and 4: I have shown a skeleton frame D, consisting of a series of plates at, placed fiatwise and transversely to the length of the frame, forming partitions with open spaces between, so that when placed in front of a dead wall or flat sign-board having a.

properly-spaced succession of kinetoscopic pictures thereon they will individually come between said figures, divide the wall or board into panels each containing the field of a single figure or picture, and have the same effect as the fixed partitions of Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a flat sign-board E with a series of correlated figures in progressive stages of motion, and in Fig. 6 I have illustrated the application of frame D to said board.

I claim- 1. In a device of the class described, a plurality of kinetoscopic figures arranged in succession, and a plurality of partitions individually located between each of said figures and extending forward therefrom, whereby the figures are given the illusion of motion to spectators moving rapidly by them, substantially as shown and described.

2. An advertising device composed of a signboard having therein in regular sequence a series of correlative figures, each of said figures representing an animate body in an attitude indicating motion, in combination with a frame having a plurality of transverse partitions with spaces therebetween, said frame being adapted to be placed in front of the 

